School Notes

Date posted:   Apr 10, 2024

The Psalms: Prayers for All Times

Photo of The Psalms: Prayers for All Times

Fee: $60 | Five Weeks
The Psalms are a collection of ancient songs so deeply expressive of the experience of God that they have been used continually for thousands of years.  Join us to learn more about how these scriptures connect to the interior lives of individuals and bind communities in worship.

Explore the structures, genres, and theologies of the Psalms to gain a greater appreciation for them in your own prayer life, and their role in the Church's liturgy.

This course provides an overview of the Psalms guided by Margaret Nutting Ralph's book The Spirituality of the Psalms.  Participants will have the opportunity to explore lament psalms, hymns of praise, and wisdom psalms.  Special attention is given to Psalms in a worship setting.  To help us engage with the Scriptural texts, there will be a guest commentator each week who will provide a video reflection.

Topics

  • Week 1: Introduction
  • Week 2: Psalms of Lament
    • Guest respondent: the late Fr. Daniel J. Harrington, S.J.
  • Week 3: Hymns of Praise and Thanskgiving 
  • Week 4: Wisdom Psalms and Entrance Rites
    • Guest respondent: Rev. Msgr. James A. Mongelluzzo
  • Week 5: Psalms in their Worship Setting
    • Guest respondent: Rev. Msgr. James A. Mongelluzzo

Special Features

Digital text available in the course:  Margaret Nutting Ralph. , Twenty-Third Publications (2016). ISBN-10: 1627851267, ISBN-13: 978-1627851268.

Content Scholars: 

  • Margaret Nutting Ralph (text), director of the Master in Pastoral Studies Program for Roman Catholics, Lexington Theological Seminary;
  • ³Ù³ó±ðÌýlate Fr. Daniel J. Harrington, S.J. (video), former professor of New Testament at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry;
  • and Rev. Msgr. James A. Mongelluzzo (video), a priest of the Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts, and faculty member at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary.